Machine for dispensing coil stock



July 16, 1968 w, DAVls ET AL 3,392,931

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING COIL STOCK Filed NOV. 14, 1966 2 SheetS Sheet lffaZ INVENTORS WILLIAM R. DAVIS JEFFREY L. WEST JOHN COULTER ATTORNEYSJuly 16, 1968 DAWS ET AL 3,392,931

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING COIL STOCK Filed Nov. 14, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet ZIIIIIIIIIIIII Q INVENTORS WILLIAM R. DAVIS JEFFREY L. WEST JOHN COULTERATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,392,931 MACHINE FOR DlSPENSING COILSTOCK William R. Davis, West Simsbury, Conn., Jeffrey L. West,

Winchester, Mass, and John Coulter, Southington,

Conn., assignors to The Stanley Works, New Britain,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No.593,949 17 Claims. (Cl. 24278.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for dispensing stock along adischarge path from a coil thereof and comprising a frame and aturntable mounted thereon. The machine further includes an accumulatingdevice having a platform carried on the frame and disposed at apreselected location in the discharge path downstream of a coil of stockfor receiving and accumulating one or more coils of stock and providinga high pay-out rate at the beginning of the dispensing cycle.

This invention relates to coil stock handling equipment and particularlyconcerns dispensing machines for paying-out strap and similar coilstock.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensingmachine for intermittently payingout stock at a high speed withoutdanger of its being overstressed, buckling or otherwise over-runningduring the course of a dispensing cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensingmachine particularly suited to quickly and smoothly dispense stock at ahigh pay-out rate in response to a sudden demand.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensingmachine having power means for rotating a coil of stock whichadditionally provides a braking action for quickly stopping its rotationto maintain continuous, uninterrupted control of the stock.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improveddispensing machine which readily handles heavy coiled stock and whichprovides reliable operation over a long service life.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section and partly brokenaway, showing a preferred embodiment of a dispensing machine constructedin accordance with the invention, and a sectional view of a coil ofstrap illustrated in broken lines as being loaded on the dispensingmachine to be paid-off therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken generally along line 22 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the dispensing machine in full linesas being partly broke away and the coil of stock in broken lines;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, partly broken away and partly in section,taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an electrical control systemincorporated in the invention.

Briefly stated, the invention is embodied in a dispensing machine,described more specifically below, having a frame for supporting aturntable assembly upon which a coil of stock, such as strap, e.g., isloaded to be dis- 3,392,931 Patented July 16, 1968 pensed from themachine. To ensure that stock will be available to be intermittentlydispensed at a high payout rate, an accumulating device is secured tothe frame above the turntable assembly for receiving and accumulating apredetermined length of coiled stock from the coil on the turntableassembly. The free end of stock is then fed from the accumulating devicethrough a discharge station to associated stock handling equipmentdesirably provided with power means for withdrawing stock but whichforms no part of this invention. When stock is suddenly withdrawn fromthe dispensing machine through the discharge station, additional stockis automatically fed into the accumulating device and the turntable ispower driven in a coil unwinding direction to assist in paying out stockand, after a desired length of stock has been payed out, to quicklyresupply the accumulating device with a sufficient quantity of expandedcoiled stock for the next high speed dispensing operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings wherein a preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated, a rigid frame 10 is shownwhich includes a horizontal support beam 11 desirably fabricated ofU-shaped channel bar having one end supported by a vertical leg 12 andan opposite end secured at the midpoint of a cross member 14. The latterhas a leg 16 at each of its opposite ends with a caster 18 mounted atthe foot of each leg 16 to render the frame 10 movable. To facilitatemaneuvering the frame 10, a handle 20 is fixed to leg 12 and supportbeam 11 at its end opposite the cross member 14.

Below the support beam 11 is a reel or turntable assembly upon which acoil 22 of strap is illustrated as being loaded on a generally circularturntable 24. The turntable 24 has an internally threaded sleeve 25.rigidly fixed at its center to extend axially upward thereof when theturntable 24 is in its illustrated horizontal position, and reinforcingbraces 26 are shown secured to the bottom surface of the turntable 24 toprovide rigidity. A segment of the turntable 24 is preferably removed toform a straight edge 27 (FIG. 3), and a pair of feet 28 are fixed to theturntable 24 in an upright position at opposite ends of edge 27 whereby,upon being disassembled from the frame 10, the entire turntable assemblymay be tipped upward into a vertical position on a supporting floor, notshown, to rest on the feet 28. This may be accomplished, e.g., by acrane having a hook, not shown, secured in the eye 29 of a heavy-dutylug 30 secured on the turntable 24 in diametrically opposed relation toits edge 27. A heavy coil of strap, typically in the order of 1000pounds, may then be readily positioned on the turntable 24 whereuponboth the coil 22 and turntable 24 may be eased back into a horizontalposition on the floor.

To couple the frame 10 to the turntable 24 an elongated screw assembly31, shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, is extended through a hollow shaft32 which is journaled in a housing 33 for rotation about a verticalaxis, the housing 33 being fixed to the frame 10 in a vertical positionintermediate the ends of the support beam 11. The screw assembly 31includes a threaded lower end 34 which is coaxially received within theupright sleeve 25 of the turntable 24 for rotatably supporting the samein a horizontal position. The hollow shaft 32 and turntable 24 are thusadapted to be coupled and, preferably, keyed together against relativemovement, and a manually operable crank 35 is secured on the upper end36 of the screw assembly 31 whereby even a fully loaded turntableassembly may be readily cranked-up by hand off the floor into anoperative position below the support beam 11.

The hollow shaft 32 is power operated by a unidirectional electric motor38 mounted to one side of the support beam 11 adjacent the cross member14. The motor 38 is operatively connected to an output or drive shaft 39having a drive sheave 40. To rotate the turntable 24 in a coil unwindingdirection, motor 38 is drivingly connected to the hollow shaft 32 by anendless V-belt 42 horizontally supported by the drive sheave 40 and by adriven sheave 44 secured to the upper end of the hollow shaft 32 justbelow the crank 35.

To provide a machine which is capable of suddenly and smoothlydispensing strap at a high initial pay-out rate even when the turntable24 is stationary, an accumulator 50 is provided in accordance with thisinvention for holding a predetermined number of expanded coils of strapavailable to be suddenly payed out from the machine.

The accumulator 50 essentially consists of a shallow storage tray havinga circular outer rim or ring 52 rigidly fixed to the support beam 11. Inthe specific illustrated embodiment, a series of upper braces 54 extendhorizontally inwardly from points of attachment at the top edge of theouter ring 52 and are shown secured to the bottom of the support beam 11which is illustrated as extending diametrically of the outer ring 52. Tosupport coils of strap within the accumulator 50, a series of lowerbraces 56 are rigidly fixed to the bottom edge of the outer ring 52 andconstituting a platform extending inwardly thereof in a horizontalplane.

An inner ring 58 is secured inside the outer ring 52 of the accumulator50 between the upper and lower braces 54 and 56 in symmetrical relationto the overlying support beam 11 whereby an annular compartment isformed between the inner and outer rings 58, 52 for receiving coiledstrap. The inner ring 58 is offset from the center of the outer ring 52toward the cross member 14 and is shown as being mounted in eccentricrelation to the hollow shaft 32. A hollow stationary drum '60 having adiametersomewhat less than that of the inner ring 58 is fixed to thelower brace structure and depends below the inner ring 58 in concentricrelation to the hollow shaft 32. Thus, when the turntable 24 is coupledtothe frame 10, the stationary drum 60 and the turntable 24 cooperate toprovide a strap dispensing reel wherein the drum 60 is coaxially alignedwith the turntable 24 and spaced inwardly of the coil 22.

A portion of the outer ring 52 is split, adjacent the juncture of thesupport beam 11 and cross member 14, to provide a discharge opening at'62, and an adjacent portion of the inner ring '58 is removed to form agap at 63. A flexible discharge guide 64, preferably formed by a closedcoil spring positioned at the discharge opening 62, is shown secured toand extended tangentially of the outer ring 52 in parallel relation tothe cross member 14. The discharge guide 64 is mounted on a support 66which in turn is secured to a brace 68 extending parallel to the supportbeam 11, the brace 68 being rigidly fixed to the inner and outer rings58, 52 thereby serving also to reinforce the accumulator 50.

So that strap from the inner periphery of coil 22 may be fed upward andradially outward of the drum 60 through the gap 63 in the inner ring 58and into the accumulator 50, a feed wheel 70 is mounted adjacent thedischarge guide 64 on the lower end of a vertical shaft 72 which isjournaled in a housing 74 (FIG. 1) fixed to the side of the support beam11 opposite the motor 38 which drives the turntable 24. The motor 38also serves to drive the feed wheel 70. A drive pulley 76 is mounted onthe drive shaft 39 in spaced coaxial relation below the drive sheave 40to provide a clearance between the drive pulley 76 and drive sheave 40,and an endless V-belt 78 is horizontally supported by the drive pulley76 and by a driven pulley, '80. The driven pulley 80 is mounted incoaxial alignment with the feed wheel 70 on the upper end of thevertical shaft 72 whereby the feed wheel 70 is drivingly connected tothe motor 38.

' 4 Suitable strap guides, not shown, may be provided to ensure that thestrap is properly fed upwardly from the coil 22 past the feed wheel 70and into the annular compartment of the accumulator 50.

To continuously control feeding of the strap into the accumulator 50, apressure roller 82 is provided to coact with the feed wheel 70 so as topositively grip the strap. The pressure roller 82 is suspended forrotation from a free end of a pivot arm 84 mounted on the support beam11 adjacent feed wheel 70 for swinging movement in a horizontal plane.The pivot arm 84 is provided with a nut adjustment 86 for selectivelypositioning the pressure roller 82 relative to the feed wheel 70 andthereby to provide a predetermined pressure on strap fed between thefeed wheel 70 and the pressure roller 82 in accordance with thethickness of the strap loaded on the turntable 24.

It has been found that improved strap dispensing is obtained bycontrolling the operation of the turntable 24 independently of the feedwheel 70, both of which, as described above, are preferably driven bythe motor 38. For this purpose, a releasable clutch mechanism is shownin FIGS. 1 and 4 for selectively engaging the driving connection betweenthe motor 38 and the turntable 24, the clutch mechanism including inpart a drive sheave 40. The drive sheave 40 is split into separableupper and lower sheave parts 92 and 94 respectively engaging the upperand lower edges of the V-belt 42. The upper sheave part 92 is secured tothe drive shaft 39, e.g., by a pin 96. The lower sheave part 94 issupported for rotation on the drive shaft 39 by means of a commerciallyavailable ball bearing assembly 100. The latter is retained in anannular compartment formed between the upper and lower sheave parts 92,94 and includes an inner race 102 fixed to the drive shaft 39 and anouter race 104 engaging the lower sheave part 94, the inner and outerraces 102, 104 providing a raceway for bearing balls such as that shownat 105.

To operate the above-described clutch mechanism, a pair of generallyhorizontal rocker arms 106 are positioned in the previously describedclearance between the drive sheave 40 and the drive pulley 76 and arepinned at their midpoints to opposite sides of a floating collar 107.The floating collar 107 is mounted for axial movement on the drive shaft39 and engages the bottom of the lower sheave part 94. The rocker arms106 overlie the support beam 11 and are interconnected at one of theirends by a pivot pin 108 fixed to a brace member 110 secured to the crossmember 14. The opposite ends of the rocker arms 106 are joined by apivot pin 112 which is fixed to a vertical actuating rod 114 operativelyconnected to a clutch solenoid 116 mounted on the support beam 11.

Upon energizing the clutch solenoid 116, the actuating rod 114 is fullyextended to force the rocker arms 106. and the floating collar 107upward to wedge the V- belt 42 between the drive sheave parts 92, 94 andthereby rotate the turntable 24 under the power of the motor 38.Alternately, upon de-energizing the clutch solenoid 116, the actuatingrod 114 is retracted to pull down the rocker arms 106 whereby thefloating collar 107 and the lower sheave part 94 drop down to declutchthe V- belt 42 and render the driving connection between the motor 38and turntable 24 inoperative, even though the motor 38 remainsenergized.

During a dispensing operation, control of the strap is assisted by aturntable damping device (FIGS. 2. and 3) having a brake shoe 118 withbrake pad 120- bonded to its bottom surface for frictionally engagingthe turntable 24. The brake shoe 118 is mounted inside the stationarydrum 60 by a pivot pin 122, and a free end of the brake shoe 118 ispinned to a vertical rod 124 operatively connected to a brake solenoid126 secured within the drum 60 above the brake shoe 118. Upon beingenergized, the brake solenoid 126 actuates the rod 124 into a fullyextended position causing the brake pad 120 to engage the turntable 24to prevent its free turning. The brake shoe 118 and pad 120 arethereafter lifted away from the turntable 24 when the rod 124 isretracted upon de-energization of the brake solenoid 126. The brakingaction is aided by a coil spring 128 suitably retained on the rod 124 tocontinuously urge the brake shoe 118 into frictional engagement with theturntable 24.

The operation of the motor 38, the clutch solenoid 116 and the brakesolenoid 126 is controlled by an electrical control system having amanually operated master switch 132 mounted upon the support beam 11 andconnected to a suitable source of electrical power, not shown. Theoperation of the motor 38 is governed by a suitable cycle control switch134 adjacent the master switch 132 on the support beam 11. The cyclecontrol switch 134 includes a pivotally mounted actuator or sensing arm138 biased by suitable means radially inward through an opening in theouter ring 52 of the accumulator 50 for maintaining the cycle controlswitch 134 in a closed position energizing the motor 38 in the absenceof relaxed, expanded coils of strap in the accumulator 50.

To operate the clutch solenoid 116, a normally open turntable controlswitch 139 is provided which additionally governs the operation of thebrake solenoid 126. The turntable control switch 139 is mounted insidethe stationary drum 60 on a bracket 140 depending from the lower bracestructure 56 and is actuated by an attached arm 142 similar in functionto the sensing arm 138 of the cycle control switch 134. One end of thearm 142 is operatively connected to the turntable control switch 139 andits opposite end extends outward through an opening in the drum 60 toengage a shoe 144 pivotally mounted for radial movement on the outersurface of the drum 60. The shoe 144 is biased radially outward of thedrum 60 to maintain the turntable control switch 139 in its normallyopen condition. Contraction of the strap about the drum 60 will causethe shoe 144 and the arm 142 to move radially inward to close theturntable control switch 139, and upon expansion of the strap away fromthe drum 60, the shoe 144 and the arm 142 move radially outward toreturn the turntable control switch 139 to its normally open condition.

It is believed that the operation of the invention will be apparent inview of the above description together with the following explanation ofits operation.

After the turntable assembly is loaded and coupled to the frame inoperative position below the support beam 11, a length of strap isunwound from the inner periphery of the coil 22 and threaded between thefeed wheel 70 and the pressure roller 82, through the gap 63 and intothe accumulator St between its inner and outer rings 58 and 52. After adesired length of coiled strap, typically about six wraps or a total ofapproximately 40 feet, has been pulled into the accumulator 50, the freeend of the strap is fed through the opening 62 out through the dischargeguide 64. A curved discharge path for strap is thus provided whichextends from the coil 22 downstream through the accumulator 5E) and outthrough the discharge guide 64 so that the free end of the strap may bewithdrawn from the accumulator 51] such as by auxiliary power operatedstrap handling equipment, not shown.

The strap loaded on the turntable 24 at the upstream end of thedischarge path is fanned inward from the coil 22 and, as best seen inFIG. 1, is normally spaced radially outward of the stationary drum 60.Downstream of the feed wheel 70, the coiled strap in the accumulator 59is relaxed with the outermost coil expanded to a diameter greater thanthat of the coil 22 and bulged outward against the outer ring 52,forcing the sensing arm 138 radially outward and thereby opening thenormally closed cycle control switch 134 and maintaining the motor 38 ina de-energized state.

Upon turning the master switch 132 ON, both the clutch solenoid 116 andthe brake solenoid 126 are initially energized whereby the drive sheave40 is in clutching engagement with the V-belt 42 and the brake pad isengaged with the turntable 24. Thereafter, the strap may be rapidlypulled through the discharge guide 64 at a high pay-out rate in theorder of 6 feet per second, and the dispensing of strap is immediatelysensed by the sensing arm 138 which pivots radially inward responsive tothe contraction of strap within the accumulator 50. The cycle controlswitch 134 is immediately closed to energize the motor 38 and activatethe feed wheel 70 to automatically begin pulling strap from the coil 22into the accumulator St). The clutch solenoid 116, which as indicatedabove is operated by the turntable control switch 139, is alsoelectrically connected to the cycle control switch 134 and isde-energized at the same time the cycle control switch is closed toinitially energize the motor 38. The V-belt 42 thus is disengaged touncouple the motor 38 and the turntable 24 at the beginning of thedispensing cycle.

As the feed wheel 70 is feeding strap into the accumulator 50 inresponse to strap withdrawal through the discharge guide 64, the strapon the turntable 24 rapidly contracts radially inward from the coil 22to collapse about the stationary drum 60, moving the shoe 144 and itsassociated arm 142 radially inward to close the normally open turntablecontrol switch 139. This de-energizes the brake solenoid 126 to releasethe turntable 24 for rotation and simultaneously re-energizes the clutchsolenoid 116 whereby the turntable 24 is accelerated in a coil unwindingdirection under the power of the motor 38 to assist paying out strap.

When the demand for strap ceases and strap is no longer being withdrawnthrough the discharge guide 64, the strap coiled about the stationarydrum 60 expands radially outward to release the shoe 144 and reopen theturntable control switch 139. The clutch solenoid 116 is then againde-energized to uncouple the driving connection to the turntable 24, andthe brake solenoid 1126 once again is energized whereby the brake pad120 re-engages the turntable 24 to dampen its rotation. The feed wheel70 continues to operate under the power of the motor 38 to feed strapinto the accumulator 50 which now fans out to its fully expandedcondition and engages the sensing arm 138 to reopen the cycle controlswitch 134 and de-energize the motor 38, thereby to simultaneouslydeactivate the feed wheel 70 and to re-energize the clutch solenoid 116.

It will now be seen that the turntable 24 is again coupled to the motor38 which, in its de-energized condition, effectively provides anadditional braking action assisting the brake pad 120 to quickly stopthe rotation of the turntable 24 despite its heavy mass and therebyensure against any tendency of the strap to buckle, become kinked orotherwise over-run.

The machine is now at rest and, upon turning the master switch 132 OFF,both the clutch and the brake solenoids 116 and 126 are de-energized.The accumulator 50 is again fully supplied with coiled strap such thatthe machine is conditioned for a repeat dispensing operation.

The present invention thus provides for smoothly dispensing stock at ahigh pay-out rate in response to a sudden demand. Once the machine isactivated, the dispensing operation is entirely automatic and shock-freewith minimal time delay between the time the stock is initiallywithdrawn from the accumulator 50 until the turntable 24 is braked to astop with the accumulator 50 fully resupplied with coiled stock inreadiness for the next dispensing cycle. The smooth automatic nature ofthe operation assures continuous uninterrupted control of the stock toeffectively prevent its over-running or being overstressed despite thehigh speed of the dispensing operation and the heavy weight of thecoiled stock.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of the structure above-described will become readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A coil handling machine for dispensing stock along a discharge pathfrom a coil thereof comprising a frame, a reel mounted on the frame forsupporting a coil of stock for rotation, and an accumulating deviceincluding a platform carried on the frame at a preselected location inthe discharge path downstream of a coil of stock for receiving andaccumulating one or more coils of stock so that the same may be suddenlywithdrawn from the accumulating device at a high pay-out rate at thebeginning of a dispensing cycle.

2. The machine of claim 1 including a driven feed wheel supported forrotation on the frame, the feed wheel being positioned in the dischargepath upstream from the accumulating device for pulling stock from a coilthereof and feeding it along the discharge path into the accumulatingdevice, and operating means mounted on the frame for operating the feedwheel in response to the withdrawal of stock from the accumulatingdevice.

3. The machine of claim 1 including driving means mounted on the framefor rotating the reel in a coil unwinding direction during thewithdrawal of stock from the accumulating device.

4. A coil handling machine for dispensing stock along a discharge pathfrom a coil thereof comprising a frame, a vertical shaft rotatablysupported on the frame and having a lower end depending below the frame,a turntable for supporting a coil of stock for rotation, the turntablebeing removably secured in a horizontal position to the lower end of thevertical shaft whereby the turntable may be removed bodily from theframe to facilitate loading a coil of stock in the machine, and astationary accumulat ing device fixed to the frame at a preselectedlocation in the discharge path downstream of a coil of stock forreceiving and accumulating a predetermined length of coiled stock sothat the same may be suddenly withdrawn from the accumulating device ata high pay-out rate at the beginning of a dispensing cycle.

5. A coil handling machine for dispensing stock along a discharge pathfrom a coil thereof comprising a frame and a stationary accumulatingdevice fixed to the frame at a preselected location in the dischargepath downstream of a coil of stock for receiving and accumulating apredetermined length of coiled stock so that the same may be suddenlywithdrawn from the accumulating device a a high pay-out rate at thebeginning of a dispensing cycle, the accumulating device comprising atraylike container of generally circular shape including an outer ring,and an inner ring secured inside the outer ring and defining an annularcompartment therebetween for receiving and ac-, cumulating a pluralityof expanded coils of stock, the outer ring having a discharge openingtherein communi eating with the annular compartment formed between theinner and outer rings.

6. The machine of claim 2 further including a pressure roller rotatablysupported on the frame and cooperating with the feed wheel to positivelyengage stock for pulling the same from a coil thereof, and means foradjusting the pressure roller relative to the feed wheel.

7. The machine of claim 2 wherein the operating means include a motormounted on the frame, a driving connection between the motor and thefeed wheel, and a switch operatively connected to the motor and having aSwitch actuator engageable with coiled stock in the accumulating device,the switch actuator being responsive to contraction and expansion ofcoiled stock in the accu: rnulating device for sensing the withdrawal ofstock, thereupon to operate the motor and the feed wheel, and forde-energizing the same at the end of a dispensing cycle when theaccumulating device is fully resupplied with stock.

8. The machine of claim 2 including a motor drivingly connected to thefeed wheel, a driving connection between the motor and the reel, andcontrol means for selectively engaging the driving connection betweenthe motor and the reel to alternately couple and uncouple the same asdetermined by the tensioning of stock pulled from a coil thereof by thefeed wheel.

9. A coil handling machine for dispensing stock along a discharge pathfrom a coil thereof comprising a frame, a stationary accumulating devicefixed to the frame at a preselected location in the discharge pathdownstream of a coil of stock for receiving and accumulating apredetermined length of coiled stock so that the same may be suddenlywithdrawn from the accumulating device at a high pay-out rate at thebeginning of a dispensing cycle, the accumulating device including acircular rim having a discharge opening therein through which stock ispayed out, the circular rim being engageable with stock contained in theaccumulating device in a fully expanded relaxed condition, a driven feedwheel supported for rotation on the frame, the feed wheel beingpositioned in the discharge path upstream from the accumulating devicefor pulling stock from a coil thereof and feeding it along the dischargepath into the accumulating device, a motor mounted on the frame, adriving connection between the motor and the feed wheel, and a switchoperatively connected to the motor and having a switch actuatorengageable with coiled stock in the accumulating device, the switchactuator being located on the circular run for operating the motor andthe feed wheel responsive to the withdrawal of stock from theaccumulating device as determined by contraction of stock radiallyinward of its circular rim, the switch actuator additionally beingresponsive to expansion of coiled stock in the accumulating device forde-energizing the motor and the feed wheel at the end of a dispensingcycle when the accumulating device is fully resupplied with stock.

10. A coil handling machine for dispensing stock along a discharge pathfrom a coil thereof comprising a frame, a stationary accumulating devicefixed to the frame at a preselected location in the discharge pathdownstream of a coil of stock for receiving and accumulating apredetermined length of coiled stock so that the same may be suddenlywithdrawn from the accumulating device at a high pay-out rate at thebeginning of a dispensing cycle, a driven feed wheel supported forrotation on the frame, the feed wheel being positioned in the dischargepath upstream from the accumulating device for pulling stock from a coilthereof and feeding it along the discharge path into the accumulatingdevice, a mot-or mounted on the frame, a driving connection between themotor and the feed wheel, a switch operatively connected to the motorand having a switch actuator engageable with coiled stock in theaccumulating device, the switch actuator being responsive to contractionand expansion of coiled stock in the accumulating device for sensing thewithdrawal of stock, thereupon to operate the motor and the feed wheel,and for de-energizing the motor and the feed wheel at the end of adispensing cycle when the the accumulating device is fully resuppliedwith stock, a reel mounted on the frame for supporting .a coil of stockfor rotation, at driving connection between the motor and the reel forrotating the reel in a coil unwinding direction during the withdrawal ofstock from the accumulating device, and a disengagea'ble clutch in thedriving connection between the motor and the reel for selectivelycoupling the same, the switch being operatively connected to the clutchfor engaging the same when the motor is de-energized at the end of adispensing cycle thereby to effect an automatic braking action on thereel to quickly stop its rotation when the accumulating device is fullyresupplied with stock.

11. A coil handling machine for dispensing stock from a coil thereofcomprising a frame, a turntable mounted on the frame for supporting acoil of stock for rotation, a stationary drum secured to the framecentrally of the turntable in concentric relation to its rotationalaxis, a

stationary accumulating device fixed to the frame for holding aplurality of expanded coils of stock so that the same may be contractedand suddenly withdrawn at a high payout rate at the beginning of adispensing cycle, a feed wheel mounted on the frame for feeding stockfrom the turntable into the accumulating device to re-supply stockdispensed therefrom, and power operated driving means for controllingthe rotation of the turntable and the feed wheel.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein the accumulating device includes acircular rim axially displaced from the turntable in eccentric relationto its rotational axis.

13. The machine of claim 11 wherein the power operated driving meansinclude a motor, a first driving connection between the motor and thefeed wheel, and a second driving connection between the motor and theturntable including a clutch mechanism for selectively coupling themotor and the turntable and controlling the operation thereofindependently of the feed whee-l.

14. The machine of claim 13 including switching means operativelyconnected to the motor and to the clutch mechanism, the switching meansincluding a switch actuator located on the accumulating device andengageable with stock therein when the same is in a fullyexpandedrelaxed condition, the switching means being operated by the switchactuator to energize the motor and deactivate the clutch mechanism inresponse to the contraction of stock in the accumulating device, and tode-energize the motor and activate the clutch mechansim in response tothe expansion of stock in the accumulating device into engagement withthe switch actuator, whereby the deenergized motor effects an automaticbraking action on the turntable at the end of .a dispensing cycle.

15. The machine of claim 13 including switching means operativelyconnected to the clutch mechanism and including a switch actuatorlocated on the stationary drum,

the switching means being operated by the switch actuator to cause theclutch mechanism to couple the motor and the turntable in response tostock pulled by the feed wheel into engagement with the switch actuatorthereby to rotate the turntable under the power of the motor until theswitch actuator is disengaged 'by the expansion of stock radiallyoutward of the drum.

16. The machine of claim 13 including an output shaft connected to themotor, a drive sheave mounted on the output shaft having a first sheavepart fixed thereto and a second sheave part, the latter being supportedfor rotation on the output shaft and axially movable relative to thefirst sheave part, a driven sheave drivingly connected to the turntable,an endless driving belt externally mounted on the drive sheave and thedriven sheave, a floating collar mounted for axial movement on theoutput shaft and engaging the second sheave part of the drive sheave,and an actuator operatively connected to the floating collar for movingthe same between an extended position frictionally clutching the beltbetween the sheave parts of the drive sheave, and a retracted positionreleasing the belt from clutching engagement thereby to provide theclutch mechanism for selectively coupling the motor and the turntable.

17. The machine of claim 15 further including damping means mounted onthe drum and selectively engageable with the turntable, the dampingmeans being actuated by the switching means for engaging the turntableand retarding its rotation when the clutch mechanism coupling the motorand the turntable is disengaged.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,228 6/1939 Littell.2,757,880 8/1956 De La Motte 24.2-78.7 3,162,394 12/1964 Culpeppe-r etal. 242-78.6

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

N. L. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner.

